Stripping mechanism for carton forming machines



July 18, 1950 F. M. WILLBRANDT STRIPPING MECHANISM FOR CARTON FORMINGMACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1948 J y 1950 F. M. WILLBRANDT2,515,621

STRIPPING MECHANISM FOR CARTON FORMING MACHINES Filed Jan. 26, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Patented July 18, 1950 STRIPPING MECHANISM FOR CARTON FORMING MACHINESFranklin M. Willbrandt, Battle Creek, Mich, assignor to Battle CreekBread Wrapping Machine Company, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application January 26, 1948, Serial No. 4,384

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stripping mechanism for cartonforming machines. v

The principal objects of. this invention are:

First, to provide mechanism for quickly and positively strippingfinished cartons from the forming blocks of a carton forming machinewithout damaging the finished cartons.

Second, to provide carton stripping mechanism which will advance withthe forming blocks of the carton forming machine so that the cartons arestripped therefrom without stopping the forming mechanism of themachine.

Third, to provide novel mechanism for bringing friction stripper rollsinto operative engagement with the forming blocks of a carton formingmachine as the forming blocks are advanced uniformly through themachine.

Fourth, to provide a novel form of forming block for carton formingmachines which is particularly adapted to cooperate with friction rollsfor stripping cartons from the block.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the details and economies ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description andclaims.

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a preferred formof my stripping mechanism.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my stripping mechanism as applied to acarton forming machine, portions of the framework of the forming machinebeing shown in cros section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view along the line 22in Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view along the line3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the driving shaft and actuating camand cam followers for the stripping mechanism.

My stripping mechanism is illustrated as anplied to a carton formingmachine having nights of carton forming blocks I mounted on a con veyor2 for movement through the carton forming process of the machine. Theconveyor 2 is driven by a chain 3 which carries a series of pressureblocks 4 associated with each flight of forming blocks and which isdriven bv a s rocket wheel partially illustrated at 5 in Fig. 1. The

process by which cartons are formed on the forming blocks I isimmaterial to the present invention and is therefore not illustrated. Itis sufficient to state that the forming blocks l are the oppositeends'of the drive shaft l0.

designed to have lined or unlined cartons 6 formed thereon and deliveredfrom left to right as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The framework of the carton forming machine is provided with a cross barI of H-shaped cross section which extends transversely of the machinebelow the path of travel of' the forming blocks l and which forms asupport for a pair of bracketsSA and BB positioned on either side of thepath of travel of the forming blocks. The brackets 8A and 8B areprovided with upturned ends 9 forming bearings for drive shafts l0.Bearing blocks l l are secured to the brackets over the cross member Iwhich form bearings for The drive shafts III are each provided withbeveled gears l2 (see Fig. 4) which are arranged to be driven by matingbeveled gears 13 secured to a cross shaft [4.

The cross shaft I4 is supported in brackets l5 (see Fig. 1) secured tothe outer sides of the bearing blocks II and is provided at its forward.end with a sprocket [6 arranged to be driven by .of racks 22A and 2213each of which is formed with a tubular lower rail journaled on the driveshafts and a pair of upstanding arms 23 form- ,ing intermediate journals24 for a pair of roll shafts 25 and upper journals 26 for supporting apair of guide rods 21. The racks 22A and 2213 thus support the rollshafts 25 and guide rods 21 parallel to the path of travel of theforming blocks I and are tiltable toward and away from the sides of theforming blocks.

Positioned between each of the racks 22A and 22B and the bearing blocksII are a pair of driving gears 28 which are pinned to the drive shaftsIt and arranged to drive mating roll gear 29 pinned to the ends of theroll shafts 25. Each of the roll shafts 25 is provided with a stripperroll at having a soft rubber exterior and a splined driving connectionto the roll shafts as illustrated at 3| .so that the rolls rotatewiththe roll shafts but are movable axially therealong. The roll 30 are eachprovided with hubs 32 having annular grooves formed therein arranged toreceive the forkportions 33 formed on the lower ends of the shiftmembers 34. The shift members 34 are mounted on the guide rods 21 andare arranged to be moved axially therewith by mechanism to be describedpresently.

The rack members 22A and 22B are provided with inwardly extending arms35A and 35B which are positioned in overlapping relationship as is mostclearly illustrated in Fig.2, so that the end of arm 35B overlies theend ofarm 35A. Each of the arms 35A and 35B are urged downwardly by coilsprings 36 secured to angle bars 3! attached to the support brackets 8Aand 8B. The forward rack 22A is furtherprovided with an outwardlyextending arm 38 pivotally-connected to a yoke 39. The shank of the yoke:99 is pivotally connected to a second yQke4OJcarr-ied on the lower endof a push rod 4|. It should-be noted that the pivotal connectionsbetween the yoke 39 and 49 and between the yoke39 and the arm 38 aredisposed at right angles'toeach other forming a universal joint.

The push rod 4| is provided .-with=.a--yoke 42 at its upper end (see ,1),which .isupivotall'y connected by a link 43 to one arm -.ofa.crankmember 44 carriedon a .stub shaft-45-secured to .the frame ofthe-.machine. .-Thecrank v44. is..arranged to be rocked: on the-shaft 45by actuation of a'second push rod 4.6 which rextendsbetween the crank 44and-thecrank arm 41. The. crank 41 is pivotallyrmountedon acrossshaft.48 reX" tending between-the sidesof themachine. The 'crank 41 is held inplace-by the collar '49| -andis provided with an-actuating arm49arrangedmto be actuated by a cam.50:secured-tothezcrossishaft i9. Thusas the actuating-armldis.raisediby .the lift ofthecam-fill,.thepushlrod.46 .will be drawn to the left as shownin,Fig..1andoperating throughthecrank 44 will depress .the push rod Al to lower the crankarmv38ron.thelowenrailof the rack 22A. This motion will swinglthelrack22A outwardly away from the .forming blocks and actingsimultaneouslyzthrough the arms 35A and 353 will swingtherack .2.2B.outwardly away from the-opposite .side ofitheformingiblooks. The cam 50has -arelatively shortxlift surface .53 extending betweenthe. ends of aconstant. retracting surface. The :stripper rolls Lidwillthus be movedawayfrom-the forming .blocks. as the. arm 49 engages the lift.surfaceObviously the shaft I9 and cam 59 must be rotated atsuch a speed asto.complete-.one revolution While .each flight is moving past'thestrippenmechanism.

The cross shaft .48 is provided oneach side of the path of theformingblocks-J with depending crank arms which are. securedrto-theshaftand pivotally connected to push .rods52 extending generallylongitudinally to the .shift blocks 34 mounted on theguiderods 721. Thecross shaft i9 is providedwith asecondcam 5L2 whichmoves a secondactuatingarmfil Lsecured to the rock shaft 48. The rockshaftABis-graduaIlymQtated by engagement .of the second actuating ,arm .5!vith thecamill. Thedepending arms'5l will be vmoved toward .the strippermechanism and the pushmodsifiz and shift blocks 34 will be actuated tomove lthestrinner rolls .3}! along .the roll shafts 25. The=cam-5| 2 isprovided with a continuously rising -.lift.surface extendingsubstantiallvaround'theecam=tola quick return surface so that as .theshaft llfiiand cam are driven in timed relationship with the conveyorchain 3. the stripper rolls 139 will be advanced along the roll shaftsZ5.at..the same speed and in timed relationship with ,eachsucceedingflight of ,forming blocks I. .The outward tilting action ofthe push rods4fizand 4| on .the, racks 22A and22l3 is. timed to coincidewith the return stroke of the push rods 52 so that the stripper rolls 30are moved outwardly away from the forming blocks as they are moved backto register with a succeeding forming block.

Attention is now directed to a detail of the forming blocks l which areillustrated as being provided witha transverse recess 54 for receiving apair of backing rolls 55. The rolls 55 are posi- --tioned so that theirouter surface is substantially tangent to the surface of the formingblocks I so as not to interfere with the process of forming the car-tonson the forming blocks but so as to readily back up the pressure of thestripper rolls 38 on the outer sides of the cartons 5. Thus as thestripper rollsr3|l are brought into engagement with. each succeedingcarton 6, they will press thesides of the cartons and against thebacking rollsr55 to obtain a positive frictional engagement with thesides of the carton. Since the stripper rolls.3il.are constantly rotatedby the gears 28 and 29,,an'd shafts l0 and'l4 each carton will berapidly and positively stripped downwardly from its. forming blockand.after passing from between the stripper rolls 39 will fall ..upon adischarge conveyor 56 for delivery to another portion of theformingmachine.

If desiredthe cross shaftM may be provided with a chain drive 51 toastub shaft and gear 58 for driving a .dater roll 59 positionedunderneath vthegpath of .travel of the formin'g'blocks so that aseachcarton is advanced across the dating roll, a date or other indiciawill be printed on the bottom of .the carton before the carton isstripped from the forming block.

I have thusv provided stripping mechanism which will engage the cartonswith sufficient pressure to have positive frictional engagementtherewith so that no cartonswillbe left on the forming blocks. Thestripping mechanism is further advanced with the "formingblocks so thereis no tendency for the, rolls to tear or damage the cartons. The formingmechanism and flights of blocks I may be operated at a uniform highspeed without being stopped to strip off the finished cartons. I havenot attempted to show any modified forms v.of mystripper mechanism'asseveral such minor modifications as may bedesired should be apparentfrom the foregoing description.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1..Carton stripping mechanism for a carton forming machine havingflights of carton forming blocks comprising; a cross member on saidmachine extending under the path of travel of said flights, a ,pair ofbrackets secured to said cross member on either side'of the path oftravel of saidflightsa pair of driving shafts journaled in said bracketsand parallel to said flights, a cross shaft journaled between saidbrackets and having gears thereon for driving said driving shafts, arack tiltably mounted on each of said driving shafts and having rollshafts rotatably mounted therein, overlapping arms on said racks wherebyoutward tilting of one rack will tilt the other rack outwardly, gearsfor driving said roll shafts from said driving shafts, shift membersslidabiy mounted onsaid racks for motion parallel to said roll shafts,stripper rolls rotatable with said roll shafts and slidable axiallytherealong, fingers on said shift members engageable with saidrolls forimparting axial motionthereto, said racks being spring urged inwardlytoward said flights, a'secondcross shaft driven'in timed said liftsurface of said cam, a second cam on said second cross shaft and havinga constantly rising lift surface, an actuator arm secured to said rockshaft and arranged to be actuated by said second cam, a pair of crankarmson said rock shaft and link connected to said shift members toadvance said shift members and rolls upon engagement of said actuatorarm with said lift surface of said second cam whereby said rolls areadvanced concurrently with each of said flights, and a pair of backingrolls recessed in each of said forming blocks and tangent with the sidesurfaces thereof, said backing rolls being positioned opposite saidstripper rolls.

2. Carton stripping mechanism for a carton forming machine havingcontinuously advanced flights of carton forming blocks comprising, across member on said machine, a pair of driving shafts supported on saidcross member and parallel to said flights, a cross shaft supported onsaid cross member and having gears thereon for driving said drivingshafts, a rack tiltably mounted on each of said driving shafts andhaving roll shafts rotatably mounted therein, overlapping arms on saidrackswhereby outward tilting of one rack will tilt the other rackoutwardly, gears for driving said roll shafts from said driving shafts,shift members slidably mounted on said racks for motion parallel to said-roll shafts, stripper rolls rotatable with said roll shafts andslidable axially therealong, fingers on said shift members engageablewith said rolls for imparting axial motion thereto, said racks beingspring urged inwardly toward said flights, a second shaft driven intimed relation to said flights to make one revolution as each flightpasses said racks, a cam on said second shaft having a lift surface anda retracted surface, a crank having an actuator arm thereon arranged tobe actuated by said cam, one arm on said. crank being link connected toone of said racks to tilt said rack outwardly away from said flightsupon engagement of said actuator arm with said lift surface of said cam,a rock shaft having a pair of'crank arms and a second actuator armthereon, a second cam on said second shaft and arranged to actuate saidsecond actuator arm, linkage connecting said pair of cranks to saidshift members to move said shift members and rolls whereby said rollsare advanced with each of said flights, and a pair of backing rollsrecessed in each of said forming blocks and tangent with the sidesurfaces thereof, said backing rolls being positioned opposite saidstripper rolls. l

3. Carton stripping mechanism for a carton forming machine havingcontinuously advanced flights of carton forming blocks comprising, apair of driving shafts supported on saidmachine and parallel to saidflights, a cross shaft supported on said machine and having gearsthereon for driving said driving shafts, a rack tiltably mounted on eachof said driving shafts and having roll shafts rotatably mounted therein,overlapping arms on said racks whereby outward tilt-' ing of one rackwill tilt the other rack outwardly,

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gears for driving said roll shafts from said driving shafts, shiftmembers slidably mounted on saidracks for motion parallel to said rollshafts, stripper rolls rotatable with said roll shafts and r slidableaxially therealong, fingers on said shift members engageable with saidrolls for imparting axial motion thereto, said racks being spring urgedinwardly toward said flights, a second shaft driven in timed relation tosaid flights, a cam on said second shaft, a crank having an actuator armthereon arranged to be actuated by said cam said crank being linkconnected to one of said racks to tilt said rack outwardly away fromsaid flights upon engagement of said actuator arm r with said cam, arock shaft having a, pair of cranks ling connected to said shiftmembers, a second cam on said second shaft, a second actuator arm onsaid rock shaft engageable with said second cam to advance said shiftmembers and rolls whereby said rolls are advanced with each of saidflights, and a, pair of backing rolls recessed in each of said formingblocks and tangent with the side surfaces thereof, said backing rollsbeing positioned opposite said stripper rolls.

4:. In combination with a carton forming machine having continuouslyadvanced flights of carton forming blocks, stripper mechanism forremoving finished cartons from said blocks comprising, constantly drivendrive shafts positioned on each side of the path of travel of saidflights, tiltable racks supported on said drive shafts and tiltabletoward and away from said flights, constantly driven roll shafts carriedby said racks and having stripper rolls rotatable therewith and slidableaxially therealong, said roll shafts being driven from said driveshafts, guide rods carried on said racks and parallel to said rollshafts, shift members on said guide rods having forks engaged with saidrolls, arms extending from said racks in cooperating overlappingrelation, springs urging said arms downwardly to converge said racks andstripper rolls on opposite sides of said flights, crank and linkmechanism for tilting one of said racks away from said flights, saidarms being operative to simultaneously tilt the other of said racks awayfrom said flights, other crank and link mechanism for moving said shiftmembers and rolls axially of said roll shafts, a cam driven in timedrelationship to said flights for actuating said first crank and linkmechanism in timed relationship with said flights whereby said rolls areconverged on each of said flights, and a secand cam driven in timedrelationship with said flights for actuating said other crank and linkmechanism for advancing said shift members and rolls with each of saidflights, said forming blocks having backing rolls mounted thereintangential to the side surfaces thereof and opposed to said stripperrolls.

5. In combination with a carton forming machine having continuouslyadvanced flights of carton forming blocks, stripper mechanism forremoving finished cartons from said blocks comprising, tiltable rackssupported on each side of the path of travel of said flights, constantlydriven roll shafts carried by said racks and having stripper rollsrotatable with said shafts and slidable axially therealong, armsextending from said racks in cooperating overlapping relation, springsurging said arms downwardly to converge said racks and stripper rolls,crank and link mechanism for tilting one of said racks away from saidflights, said arms being operative to simultaneously tilt the other ofsaid racks away from said flights, other crank and linkcartonforming'blocks, stripper mechanism forremoving finished cartonsfrom said blocks comprising tiltable racks supported on each side of thepath of travel of said flights and tiltable toward and away from saidflights, constantly drivenroll shafts carried by said racks and havingstripper rolls rotatable with said shafts and slidable axiallytherealong, springs arranged to converge said racks and stripper rolls,a first crank and link mechanism for tilting said racks away from saidflights, other crank and link mechanism for moving said stripper rollsaxially alongsaid roll shafts, a cam driven in timed relationship tosaid flights for actuating said first crank and link mechanism wherebysaid rolls are converged against each of said flights, and a second camdriven in timed relationship with said flights for actuating said othercrank and link mechanism to advance said rolls with each of saidflights, said forming blocks having backing rolls mounted thereintangential to the r,

surfaces thereof and opposed to said stripper rolls.

7. In combination with a carton forming machine having flights of cartonforming blocks, stripper mechanism for removing finished cartons fromsaid blocks comprising tiltable racks supported on each side of the pathof travel of said flights and tiltable toward and away from saidflights, driven roll shafts carried by said racks and having stripperrolls rotatable with said shafts and slidable along the axes thereof, t

a spring arranged to converge said racks and stripper rolls, crank andlink mechanism for tilting said racks away from said flights, othercrank and link mechanism for moving said stripper rolls along the axisof said roll shafts, a first camdriven in timed relationship to saidflights for actuating said first crank and link mechanisms whereby saidrolls are converged against each of said flights, and a second camdriven in timed relationship to said flights for actuating said othercrank and link mechanism for advancing said rolls with each of saidflights, said forming blocks having backing rolls mounted thereintangential to the surfaces thereof and opposed to said stripper rolls.

8. Carton stripping mechanism fora carton formin machine havingcontinuously advanced flights of carton forming blocks comprising, rackstiltably mounted on each side of the path of travel of said flights,continuously driven roll shafts mounted in said racks and parallel tothe path of travel of said flights, stripper rolls hav ing a soft rubbersurface rotatablewith said roll shafts and slidable axially therealong,cam actuated mechanism driven in timed-relationship with said 1 flights;and arranged: to advance said; rolls with each of said flights, othercam-actuat-- ed mechanism driven intimed relationship with said flightsand arranged to tilt said racks away from said flights after eachadvance of said rolls, and backing rolls recessed within each of saidforming blocks and arrangedto engage the inside of cartons formedthereon on the opposite sides of said cartons from said stripper rolls.

9. Carton stripping mechanism for a carton forming machine havingcontinuously advanced flights of carton forming blocks comprising, rackstiltably mounted on each side of the path of travel of said flights,driven roll shafts mounted in said racks and along side of the path oftravel of said flights, stripper rolls having a soft;friction surfacerotatable with said roll shafts and slidable along the axes thereof, camactuated mechanism driven in timed relationship with said flights andarranged to advance said rolls with each of said flights, other camactuated mechanism driven intimed relationship with said flights andarrangedto tilt said racks away from said flights after each advance ofsaid rolls, and'backing rolls recessed withineach of said forming blocksand arranged to engage the insideof cartons carried thereon on, theopposite sides of said cartons-from said stripper rolls.

10. Carton stripping mechanism for a carton forming machine havinflights of cartonforming blocks comprising continuously driven stripperrolls having a soft rubber surface, means rotatably supporting saidrolls on the opposite sides of the path of travel of said flights, saidmeans and stripper rolls being swingable toward and away from the sidesof cartons formedon said blocks, said rolls being slidable on, saidmeans along their'axisof rotation parallel to, the-path of travel'ofsaid flights, and means driven in timed relation to'said flights foractuating said stripper rolls including shift members for moving saidrolls axially'with said flights and push rods for swinging said rollsaway from said flights at theend-of each advancing. motion of saidrolls.

ll. Carton stripping mechanism for a carton formingmachine havingflights of carton forming blocks'comprising continuously driven stripperrolls, means rotatably supporting. said rolls on the opposite sides ofthe path of travel of said flights, said means and stripper rolls beingswingabletoward and away fromlthe sides of cartons formed on-saidblocks, saidrolls being slidable on said means along their axis ofrotation, and means for actuating-said stripper rollsincluding shiftmembers for moving said'rolls axially with said flights-and membersforswinging said rollslaway from said flights at the end of theadvancing motion of said rolls.

FRANKLIN M. WILLBRANDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of'record-in the file ofthis patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Countryv Date.

9,165- Great Britain 1897 118,093 Austria June 10, 1930

